Who Knew?

After venturing into town yesterday and making the usual spur of the moment buys, one of them stood out the most to me. I couldn't help but share with you as it left me shocked and pleasantly surprised.

It just so happens to be a powder brush. And yes, it is from Wilko's. I have not seen this line of brushes in store before but I don't think they are new.
I was so surprised as to how soft it was and the size of it too. At just £4 it is a complete steal. I would go as far as saying it gives the Real Techniques powder brush a run for its money. 

The Wilko's brush is much larger and more compact so is great for use with loose or pressed powders. The slight point of the brush allows you to get under the eyes and get the full use out of the brush. I think it will be promoted to my everyday powder brush. I'm definitely going to check out the rest of this line of brushes (not that I need any more). What do you guys think? Have you bought from this line too?
Halloween is tomorrow but mine starts tonight so I hope you all have a good one.

All links are in red as usual.
Thanks for reading.

G x 

Make Up with Maybelline

I'd been wanting to buy some more of Maybellines Colour Tattoo products for a while now and yesterday was one of those days where you think 'why the heck not', so I went ahead and bought a couple more of them.

I bought 'Metallic Pomegranate' and 'Endless Purple'. I set out to buy Metallic Pomegranate but not the other. For me, Endless Purple is way out of my comfort zone with it's electric purple tone, it is super bright for me. I read that purple is good for blue eyes and yes, you've guessed it, I have blue eyes so I went for it.

Just using the two products I made this look with Metallic Pomegranate towards the outside and Endless Purple on the inner corners. I didn't go too heavy with the colours as like I said it's out of my comfort zone and i'm not ready for that kind of commitment just yet. However, I really like the out come and may brave a heavier application next time. I simply blended the colours slightly towards the middle and up to below the brow bone. Throw on a classic cat eye and I was good to go. I'm definitely going to experimenting more with these products.

To finish I thought I'd show you what's on my nails.

A Rimmel nail polish in Desire. This can look almost black in some lights but is in fact a very dark plum colour with a slight sparkle. I'm loving these kinds of colours to transition into autumn and so glad I picked this baby up.

What do you guys think of the products? Let me know in the comments.

All links are in red to take you to buy/ browse the products.

Thanks for reading.

G x 

Highlight of my Life

Along with my love for bronzers, comes a close second of highlighters. My collection of these may not add up to the amount of bronzers I own, but I've still got time for them to level peg. I will however, talk about the ones I do have. I think I may have featured them in posts before, but lets get into the nitty gritty. 

3 different ones for you today, with a mix of affordable and high end. And by a mix I mean one affordable.

 You've heard of this one right? Macs Mineralize Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle. If you haven't seen it before then you heard it here first so go tell everyone you know haha. At £23 it's on the pricey side but that's Mac for you. For me it gives a lot of highlight on my pale complexion. Probably the most out all 3 of these. I have to use a loose brush to apply this. You know, a brush where the bristle aren't all tightly packed. I must learn technical terms for brushes. Enough product is picked up with one good swirl and it lasts me the whole day.

I bought this just for the sake of it. It's Soap and Glory's Love at First Blush in Pink, Pop and Pearl. When all the colours are mixed together on the brush I think it makes a great dupe for the Mac product and at £11 it's pretty much half the price. I wouldn't say it was as pigmented as Macs but with a couple good swirls of the product the same effect can be achieved as Soft and Gentle. 

The final one is Nars Multiple in Copacabana. This one has to be my favourite. Easy to apply as no brush is really needed. I will say that I didn't get on with this one when I first bought it. It was my first highlighter so I didn't really know what I was doing, but now I really love it. If you prefer creamier products then you'll probably like this. It's the most expensive at £30 but it will last a long time. I apply it directly to my cheeks and then blend with a brush but you could just use your fingers to blend. This doesn't last as long as Macs but I don't really mind too much. It give a lovely glow that looks more natural and leaves a slight shimmer as it begins to come off throughout the day, which is subtle but still catches the light slightly. 

The Nars one is whiter with the Soap and Glory having a slight pinkness to it. I guess Macs could be a kind of mix of the two. All are however, subtle and suitable for everyday use so you are going to be getting your moneys worth with them all. You just might have to save up for a bit longer for some. 

If you have any more questions about the products then leave a comment below, i'd be happy to answer them. Otherwise all links are in red to take you straight to the sites.

Thanks for reading.

G x

Cheekbone Announcement

No, I don't have some news about my cheekbones, as the title of this post might suggest, but I am going to be talking about the cheekbones. Or more about what we use to make them more pronounced. Bronzers. Just get to the point Gemma. With some people, when it comes to make up, they have that one thing they really love and somehow end up with billions of them. That one thing for me, is bronzer. Now I don't have billions but my collection of (probably un-needed bronzers) is certainly starting to build up, and there's more on my list to purchase. I'm going to run you through a few bronzers I own. 

Let's get started....

Miss Sporty Oh Tan So Fine - 002 Sunny

This was the first ever bronzer I got and it's still going strong. I think I've had it like 3 years. Is it gross i'm still using it? Meh, it's doing the job. I tend to use the lighter side for under my cheekbones and a light dusting of a mix of the two to contour the rest of my face. Not my favourite anymore, but if you're just starting out with it all, this Miss Sporty one is great to get going with. And cheap as well. It's not sold anymore, but any Miss Sporty bronzer, I'm sure will do the job.

Max Factor Bronzing Powder - 01 Golden

After I bought this, I realised it might be too dark for me as I have a fairly pale complexion. However, I've recently been getting back into it. I use the Real Techniques Blush Brush with it so I don't get too much on the brush and it works a treat and gives a great colour on me. Quite a lot of product comes off on the brush if you aren't careful, so use sparingly.

Gosh Giant Sun Powder - Brown

You want me to be honest here? Well I had my eye on this for ages and in the end I only bought it for how big it was (that's what she said- inappropriate). Which then resulted in me barely using it. However, much like the Max Factor one, I have recently got back into using it. As an under the cheekbone bronzer it is actually too light so instead I use it as a golden highlight on top of the cheekbone and it's really working well for me. I'm starting to use it more and more everyday now. I'd say for darker skin it'd also be great as more of a highlight too.

Bourjois Délice de Poudre Bronzing Powder - 52

In the beauty world I think this bronzer is talked about a fair amount. Pros, it smells great. For me it isn't this amazing bronzer I've heard it to be. It's not awful, but definitely not my favourite. Now I've starting getting further into the product, it's starting getting those hard bits in the powder that prove nearly impossible to get product off of. Do you guys know what I mean? I feel like I'll have to somehow get this hard bits out to get more product on the brush. I'll definitely still be using it, but for me it wasn't all it was hyped up to be. But trial and error happens sometimes.

Barry M Natural Dazzle Solid Tan

This is a fairly new purchase and I featured it in a recent Beauty Haul on my Youtube channel here. The packaging states as follows 'lightweight, matt bronzer...will replace foundation to give a streak free natural looking finish to face and body'. I have yet to test the replacing foundation theory but it'd be a great alternative from time to time oif it followed through on this statement. This is one of two of my matt bronzers and I've been looking for matt ones for ages so am very pleased to have found this. It's also my first red undertoned one as well. I've only used it a couple of times but the pigmentation is right on point and it kind of gives that in between tanned and slightly burnt look which I think can look quite nice sometimes. So i'd say definitely a bronzer for the summer.

Topshop Bronzer - Mohawke

The final bronzer of today. I think this might be my favourite one. It's a fairly new purchase also featured in my Beauty Haul. It's a creamier sort of  powder (is that possible?) and something I've never had before. Quite a lot of product comes off onto the brush so use sparingly much like the Max Factor one. The colour is perfect for me though. It's such a soft, smooth bronzer and I'm so glad I bought it. Maybe more of a autumn/ winter bronzer as it is a little lighter in colour but an all round really great product. I definitely recommend it.

Just thought I'd show you what bronzer 'm wearing today. Under the cheekbone we have Max Factors Bronzing Powder and as a highlight is Gosh Giant Sun Powder. I really love the combo. at the moment and will definitely be making making more use out of these two bronzers. 

So there's your insight into my bronzers and how they've faired with me. Am I the only one that loves bronzers and just wants them all? Let me know what you think in the comments.

As per. the links are in red to take you to buy the product if you wish, or to check out prices.

Thanks for reading.

G x

My New Lip Products

In a recent Beauty Haul I did here, I showed a few lips products I had bought in the recent past. I was messing around with their looks the other night and thought I'd share my results. I have to say that some of them are just divine. We'll start the subtlest of them all.

Here we have Rimmels Birthday Suit. I'm a little confused as on the website it's called Pink Birthday Suit but they are still the same colour. I bought this on a whim, didn't even swatch in store, just bought. Ooo risky move Gemma. I like to live life on the edge me haha. But this is such a lovely, slight bronze nude. I've been right into nudes at the moment so thumbs up? Check. The colour tones down my own lip colour nicely so I'd say a great 'on a whim' purchase.

I love this colour. It's Topshops Hazard. The colour comes out slightly more sheer than what I expected as it looks quite dark in the tube however, it's still a great statement red lip. It definitely compares massively to Macs Russian Red. I can hardly tell the difference so a great dupe for a fraction of the price.

On the left we have Topshop and the right is Mac. Mac may be a little more pigmented but still a great dupe I'd say.

For me, this was the most disappointing. This is Topshops Depth. In the tube it's verging on being black yet upon application it doesn't follow through. It again, like Hazard, comes out much more sheer and more of a plum colour. It's still a lovely colour but I feel it won't last long on the lips due to the sheerness. I'd definitely recommend a lip liner under this one.

This last one is definitely my favourite. I've never had a colour like it. It is Topshops Lip Bullet in Bewitched. On the website it looks much more red but man is it not. This is such a strong, gorgeous purple colour and so pigmented. I may have to invest in some more of the Lip Bullets. I'm so impressed with this colour pay off. Such a statement colour and perfect for the autumn/ winter months. With a simple eye look this lip colour will do all the talking. Ahhhh I love this so much. In the tube it looks a little lighter that Depth but it comes out darker on the lips. I can't praise this enough. I absolutely love it. Excuse me whilst I head over to Topshop to buy some more. 

So they were my newest lip products with a little review. I'm not normally a massive lippy person but the tables are turning my friends.

As usual links are in red to take you to buy them if you so desire.

Thanks for reading.

G x

Product Review | Wonder'Full

When I was on holiday last week, I was fast running out of my everyday mascara, so I headed straight over to Boots to browse and pick up another one. I came across the new Rimmel Wonder'Full mascara with Argon Oil. It claims to leave lashes feeling smooth and conditioned, so lets put it to the test. 

Firstly the packaging appeals to me greatly. Bronze, gold is a winner for me. Also is it me or is it really satisfying when the lid clicks into place to line up with the front? Just me? That's fine. The wand has a slight bend to it but nothing too dramatic so application is still easily done. And it's a plastic wand (is that the right word?) rather than a not plastic one. I can't think of the name for them but you know what I mean? Personally I prefer plastic wands so again a winner for me.

 Lets compare for a fair review shall we. Got to do this good and proper for you guys. Compared to no mascara there is an obvious difference. Its added some volume and length which to be honest any mascara should be doing so we are doing well so far. I have to say that it doesn't feel like i'm wearing any mascara which is great as sometimes it can be heavy and leaves clumps and irritates the eyes after a while. Let us compare to another mascara.

Another Rimmel one but this time it's Kate Moss' one. This one has the not plastic wand (what are they bloody called? Someone help me haha). Packaging is still great for me but lets compare the actual product.

The Wonder'Full gives a little more volume especially on the bottom lashes so it's opens up the eyes a bit more. The Kate Moss does flake slightly so isn't going to last on the lashes. I just took my finer along the lashes of Kate Moss (not the actual Kate Moss) and it feels like its coming off already. 

Kate Moss' mascara at £7.49 from Boots and Wonder'Full at £5 I think we know who wins here. I really do think this product is worth the money for something to wear everyday. I would probably build it up or add another mascara on top for an evening look as I'd want something more dramatic but if i'm going to be wearing this everyday then I think I'll be getting my moneys worth. All in all I'd say a good product but there's probably better such as,for me, the Max Factor False Lash Effect Fusion Length and Volume (mouthful and a half that). However it is going to be promoted to my everyday mascara so not all is lost.

Hope this has helped anyone um-ing and rr-ing over this product in some way.

As ever, links are in red to take you to buy them if you wish.

Thanks for reading.

New video on my youtube channel is here.

G x

Alright Lippy....?

I attempted this post once before a while ago and failed somehow. I don't even know how that occurred but here I am with the second attempt and success. I don't think i've done a beauty post in a while. I definitely can't remember my last one, so this sunday I bring you beauty in the form of lipstick. My 5 favourite lipsticks to be precise. I don't have a mass of lipsticks. Probably about 10 or so but these 5 are my trusty, always do the job, always look good lipsticks.

We'll go from lightest to darkest shade wise shall we.

First up we have Topshops Saint. I love this one. The pinky nude shade really brightens my whole face up adding that extra lift to my everyday make up. The only trouble is that it doesn't last very long on the lips. I have yet to find a solution to making any of my lipsticks stay put for longer so if you have any tips then feel free to comment.

Macs Pure Zen. Very similar shade to the Topshop one but slightly more pink undertones. Bit more pricey however, so I guess they could be dupes for each other. I love the finish on this. It's much creamier than the Topshop one but again I need advice on the staying power. And much like Saint, this brightens up my whole face.

Kate Moss Rimmel in shade 19. I haven't actually worn this one for a while as it's definitely more of an autumn/ winter colour. I think it's a more sophisticated colour as well, almost has a Kylie Jenner feel to it. You know where i'm coming from? This one actually does last quite a while on me as it's a bit thicker and darker colours always stay put more on my lips. So I do recommend this for the autumn months.

The packaging is slightly different for this one now as I did get it quite a while ago. It was actually a free gift in a goody bag when I went to the Clothes Show Live once. But it is Rimmels Sugar Plum 086. This manages to make my teeth look whiter which is always a bonus. Maybe more of a christmassy kind of shade but we don't play by the rules here so I may take on holiday with me. Has a slight sheen to it but nothing too extensive. Nice and subtle. All in all a great shade to have especially with the hint on plum undertones as well. Love it.

And finally a classic. Macs Russian Red. Mac actually do this shade in a Tinted Lipglass as well. This is a fairly new purchase for me. My first ever Mac lipstick so a treasured one. This makes any outfit look badass. I recently wore it one of my videos here, with an all black outfit and I think it looked so rock and roll. It's such a statement and stays on forever. I think any girl into make up needs a classic red lip and this is exactly that. I'd say it's worth the money but i'm sure there's similar drug store ones out there.

Here are swatches of them all to give you a bit of a better idea of colour. I think my top 2 are the Mac ones. Can't go wrong with them.

So there you have it, my top 5 favourite lippy's. Do you have any of the same ones? Or have you got any tips for making my lighter shade stay put for longer?

As per links are all in red.

(Side note - new video will be on my youtube channel on Tuesday so look out for that)

G x